id Software issued a brief statement in response to widespread layoffs across Xbox Game Studios, affirming the studio's commitment to development despite the personnel cuts. The Doom and Quake developer did not disclose specific numbers or details about which team members were affected.
"We're going to keep building great games," the studio said in a statement to Polygon, offering minimal elaboration on the impact or scope of the reductions. The comment came as part of Microsoft's broader restructuring of Xbox Game Studios, which involved significant workforce cuts announced in early 2024. Multiple studios under the Xbox umbrella shed staff during that period, though the exact number of affected id Software employees remains undisclosed.
id Software has anchored Microsoft's first-person shooter portfolio for decades. The studio's Doom franchise, rebooted in 2016 and followed by Doom Eternal in 2020, represents some of Xbox's most acclaimed shooters. Quake's legacy as a genre-defining classic also gives id Software outsized importance within the gaming division's identity.
The studio's statement prioritizes reassurance over transparency. Rather than address which projects face delays, what production schedules look like, or how the cuts might affect ongoing development efforts, id Software chose to emphasize continuity. This approach mirrors responses from other affected studios during the broader Xbox layoffs, where leadership typically focused on future goals rather than immediate challenges.
The timing matters. Xbox Game Pass remains central to Microsoft's gaming strategy, and players expect consistent content from marquee studios like id Software. Any disruption to the Doom pipeline or upcoming projects would signal deeper problems within the restructuring.
id Software's track record suggests resilience. The studio shipped Doom Eternal to critical acclaim while maintaining Quake Champions as a live service title. Still, layoffs ripple through development pipelines. Questions about what's next for both Doom and Quake franch